MISCELLANEA [April 10- June 17, 2012]
MONSTER PAPAS
I doubt if I can use the word PAPA in this context.
Baby Afreen, a suckling infant, is said to have been beaten blue by none other than her father. Critical, she is fighting death at Bangaluru.
Last week a monster is reported to have raped his own daughter. Today’s papers report a ghostly monster of Gujarat raping a 2-yr old girl. [I rechecked that it was not a printing mistake.]
If a case can be made out for capital punishment, can there be a fitter case? Let such men be erased from the trustworthy and sweet landscape of fathers.
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11 Apr 2012
Reply to a Facebook Post
“Absolutely. The Muslims who can demand every conceivable right for themselves from European countries can’t even allow the basic right of freedom of worship to minorities in their own countries!
Worse, they do not enjoy basic freedoms themselves in ‘their own’ countries, with only about 7% Muslim countries enjoying true democracies.”
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11 Apr 2012
FOOT SOLDIERS PUNISHED
In the infamous Ode Massacre case in which 23 innocent Muslims – collected in a house – were locked and burnt alive in 2002, 23 accused have been held guilty. 23 others have been acquitted for want of evidence. [Yes, it was a strange conjunction of numbers 23:23:23!]
As the judge pronounced his verdict, while the victims’s relatives heaved a sigh of relief, the accused and their relatives broke down. The accused now await punishment: life imprisonment, if not death by hanging.
As I watched the accused wailing I was wondering if they were not a kind of victims, too. Victims to propaganda of the real culprits, sitting high up in their lofty echelons, whom nobody can touch. Victims of their political machinations. Victims of their own biases, hatred, indiscretion. Their lot is worse: they will now die several deaths.
Why, why do ordinary people kill ordinary people? And how? The only denominator separating the killers from their victims was the RELIGION. So many centuries after Charles Darwin convinced us how we are all evolved from a common ancestry, does religion continue to be such a powerful source of hatred? And how long?
Come, let us promote rationality. For a more peaceful world. A more loving world.
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11 Apr 2012
Reply to Facebook Post
“We blame those that burnt the train, not the innocent sitting ducks all over Gujarat. And do we know who burnt the train? The alleged Chief Conspirator, Mulla Umarji has been released by the Court as not guilty. Mr Modi was the CM who did or could NOT prevent a. the train burning and b. the after math. On both counts he should be held responsible, shouldn’t he?”
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12 Apr 2012
NDTV noon bulletin takes up Ode massacre verdict after RTE verdict, Noopur bail case n Italian’s release in Odhisha. How sensitive!
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16 Apr 2012
“BEWARE!
Do not LIKE this, SHARE this, COMMENT upon it, or otherwise deal with it unless you have first taken out anticipatory bail. Remember the Big Sister is watching!”
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16 Apr 2012
In Reply to a Facebook Question: ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?
No way, these kids are absolutely from the Mars. My, my, the way they understand gadgets… the way they type their SMS [with a single hand, even as they pretend to take notes for the teacher!] I have no hesitation in admitting that they are way smarter.
My advantage, though, lies in my AGE. I challenge them to equal it!!
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18 Apr 2012
A Reply to a Facebook Post:
Sam Kadri and Pradeep Esteves yes, I should have specifically mentioned Baba Ramdev. I am tempted to see the hype about CAG estimates of losses [from 2G to coal] and the Army-MOD imbroglio too in similar backdrop. One wonders what undercurrents might be working beneath the everyday news we take such serious note of.
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20 Apr 2012
AIRCRASH
A sorrowful good-bye, from India, to all 127 passengers aboard Bhoja Airlines’ Boeing 747 airplane that crashed in Islamabad.
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20 Apr 2012
WORKERS SMASHED
Workers – ordinary, hard working, honest men like you and me – that earn their daily bread offering their time and skills to corporates and industries, risk their lives travelling in Mumbai’s overcrowded local trains everyday. Yesterday it was doubly bad, thanks to a nasty fire damaging their signalling system.
Two young men hanging from the door handle of one of the locals smashed against an iron protrusion and died instantly. Several others took a fall and suffered grievous injuries.
All for the sake of two square meals a day? Two precious lives gone for just living in an under-developed, over-populated country, during a normal work trip?
Adieu friends, and bravo, families. We will all endure this, and more. We are fatalists.
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21 Apr 2012
NATIONAL DRINK
Giving company to the National Bird, the Flower, the Animal et al is the National Drink. Guess which? Which else? TEA!
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said tea would be declared as national drink by April next year.
“The drink would be accorded national drink status by April 17 next year, Ahluwalia said while addressing the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Assam Tea Planters Association here.
Calls for a party. A Tea Party!
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22 Apr 2012
NARENDRA MODI ARRESTED, QUESTIONED
This man was being followed by police for quite some time for his gambling and other unlawful activities. Finally he was apprehended in Tarsadi Village of Mangrol Talluka, in Gujarat, yesterday.
Why? Why do you seem perplexed? Oh! I see. You thought of some other person. You see, the other person operates at a much larger scale. And Economics underlines how economies of scale work!
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22 Apr 2012
REVERSING THE BARBARITY
Are the wives out to take revenge for the oppression of centuries they suffered?
An NRI, an American resident, Shreya Bhiman Patel, burnt her husband by pouring inflammable material on his body while giving him a massage. And as he fought for his life, she locked him up in the bath room. The commotion brought the police, who rushed him to hospital with third degree burns. He lies critically while the lady is being questioned about the shopping she did for burning him.
So, are women reversing the barbarity?
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22 Apr 2012
SIXTH WIFE
Who says Muslims alone are polygamists? South African President, Jacob Zuma, took his sixth wife, fourth currently living, yesterday.
To all those polygamists: ain’t one too many already?”
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24 Apr 2012
OUTDATED PROTOCOL
Honourable Minister, why not just The Minister, and be addressed as “Sir” or as “Mr Minister”?
Your Lordship for Judges: Why not merely “Sir”?
Your Excellency for President and Governors: Why not, again, just, “Sir”?
If there is no Honourable Citizen, how come the Minister elected out of such citizens becomes so honourable?
Isn’t it time to reject this outdated protocol?
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24 Apr 2012
A Facebook Reply
Mudita Vidrohi you seem to be on the dot. In Kashmir the Hindus [Kashmir Pandits, perhaps ‘Suryavanshi Hindus’] are meat gluttons [compared with the south Indians, for instance]. Gandhiji’s autobiography recalls how Bengalis offer the sacrifice of goat and sprinkle its blood. Oriyans are said to be making an offering of the fish to their grand temple. But given the vociferous opposition to non-vegetarianism in Gujarat the local Hindus tend to think eating meat is completely un-Hindu like.
I dare say, too, that Gujarat’s emphasis on vegetarianism has also contributed to discouraging inter-faith exchanges and camaraderie. After all when families meet together, eat together, friendships foster better.
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26 Apr 2012
A Reply to a Facebook Post
Thanks, Pradeep Esteves for this illuminating article. http://www.hindu.com/2001/08/14/stories/13140833.htm
I specially invite friends like Devshri Dev,Akshay Shah, Anar Bhatt, Leena Rao, Mridul Pandey, Krunal Sangani etc to browse it, debate it and argue a case for or against vegetarianism.
I learnt a few things, such as Budha having been non-vegetarian, the tree of enlightenment being destroyed by a Hindu king etc.
Sometimes it appears that what we read, and are forced to read, is the history narrated by the people in power for the time being.
Over to you… as usual.
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26 Apr 2012
SUNNI, SHIA, SALMAN, TASREEN
The likes of Salman Rushdie and Tasleema Nasreen are accused of insulting Islam and hurting Muslims through their writings. Some people, therefore, called for their death.
A number of Sunni and Shia “Ulema” poured out venom against Shias and Sunnis respectively, including outright calls for killing these “snakes within”.
Which of the two types hurt Islam and Muslims more?
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29 Apr 2012
A Facebook Comment
“Reds Raj I have often felt that we as a society are by and large yet to acquire the civility to debate with decorum, to engage in a logical and purposeful discussion. Many of our so-called debates on our national television channels often appear no better than street brawls.. I vividly recall the many fantastic 2-minute speeches of the US Senators / and Congressmen in the wake of the Clinton impeachment proceedings. That seems a far cry for us.. Do you think so, too?”
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29 Apr 2012
POLITICAL GOVERNORS
Aziz Qureshi, who has been appointed as the Governor of Uttarakhand, unabashedly acknowledged: “Sonia’s blessing made me the Governor”. Which may be entirely true, but Your New Excellency, you are not supposed to proclaim this from the rooftops! A Governor is supposed to be an apolitical position, and he should be – and should seem to be so.
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1 May 2012
SCANDALOPEDIA!
This is an interesting peek back into the scandals that rocked India during the last few years. I am merely reproducing a mail I received.
I am not sure if anyone would want to refer back to those unpleasant stories, but just in case someone does…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_in_India#cite_note-118
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1 May 2012
A Facebook Reply
“If such a bright and well-informed girl like Mudita Vidrohi did not know this just guess what must be the information gap on the part of our average youth? This massive information black-hole is not accidental, it is by design. In the knowledge vacuum thus created the hate merchants can sell their merchandise: hatred. This is a brief and balanced presentation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir”
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8 May 2012
On Promoting TAHZEEB Group Page on Facebook
CONSTITUTION OF TAHZEEB – A DRAFT
Friends, as promised we are presenting a draft constitution for your review, as a separate document on this Page.
An effort has been made to promote TAHZEEB as a virtual, as well as a physical body. A balance is sought to be struck between the requirements of law, organization, protocol, formalities, transparency and procedures, on the one hand and flexibility, efficiency and warmth, on the other.
Mr Anis Faruki deserves accolades for helping frame this. This draft is just the beginning. It can be vastly improved with your inputs. So go ahead and please post your comments.
We also need to prepare a Code of Ethics for Members. Your inputs are solicited for this, as well.
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8 May 2012
TAHZEEB
“A secular platform for free inquiry, debate and discourse with civility, decorum and restraint; an endeavour to promote pluralism and liberalism; an effort to preserve Indo-Islamic cultural heritage.”
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8 May 2012
Friends, the silence of the last two months has not been very encouraging.
The principal idea of this platform is to stimulate debate and inquiry; challenge fundamentalist thinking, unshackle complacence; alert to the dilemma of the Muslims; encourage pluralistic and liberal thinking and to embrace rationality and reason.
We need to invite a lot of secular non-Muslims and Muslims for active participation. And we need to propose debatable themes, post thought provoking comments, suggest links to sources that challenge obscurantism and promote modernity.
We also need to continue to highlight the threat to the Indo-Islamic cultural heritage.
So, let’s swell, ponder, post…
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11 May 2012
NEWS
Both houses of Parliament disrupted and adjourned on row over cartoons of Mr B R Ambedkar.
VIEW
If our Dalit brethren can get so exercised over this, [and I mean nothing but respect for Baba], I wonder how anyone can fault the Muslims for their agitation over their prophet’s cartoons?”
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12 May 2012
A Reply to a Facebook Comment
Thanks Umesh Shukla for the generosity. No, far from being a well-read person, I am a yet-to-read-a-lot person! But I am a lover of humanity, of our, this, present, world. And, therefore, I endeavour to make my presence here worth its while. Now on I will perhaps have your friendship with me, to forge ahead
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12 May 2012
A Reply to a Facebook Post
An illuminating piece, Sam Kadri.
May I add some more?
Muslims are relatively more urban than the rest of Indians. Therefore, they own lesser land per capita, and live in shanties. Their literacy rates would fall further if they were rural inhabitants, and if madarsas were not to provide basic literacy.
Ironically, though, it is often this madarsa education that arguably constraints their world view, too.
When I ponder the condition of the community, I end up finding ourselves to blame MORE than anyone else, including the governments of various political parties. The Jains, Parsis, even Christians [despite hostility towards the former colonialists] manage much better ratios than Muslims.
When we doubt we only have to look beyond India. Over to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and a whole host of OIC countries. The condition is by and large identically disheartening.
Let’s, therefore, take this debate as to the CAUSES and their plausible SOLUTIONS forward. Thank you for initiating it
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14 May 2012
“JUSTICE FROM WITHIN?
After the police, the bureaucracy, the SIT, the judiciary.. all failed to nail Mr. Narendra Modi, will the real challenge arise, ironically as it should seem, from within the BJP?
Mr. Keshubhai Patel has begun to make confrontational noises. His take: Gujarat is in a state of terror [thanks to the dictatorship of Mr. Modi], the poor is getting poorer with only a select few industrialists receiving all the favours, Mr. Modi is like a palm or date tree growing tall but offering no one any shade etc. http://bit.ly/LFFxIK
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14 May 2012
NEWS: Nitin Gadkari Gets Another Term!
Another year of Gadkarigari! Another year of Nitin Jokes!
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14 May 2012
MOTHER’S DAY
Which is not? Indeed, which moment is not mother’s moment.
But if it serves to lay extra emphasis on the value of the rich heritage our mothers left us, that is welcome.
May it be said, we are whatever our mothers made us? At least in my case this is so. Minus my personal frailties.”
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14 May 2012
“NEWS: Would like to have [General] VK Singh in our team: Anna Hazare
VIEW: We thought the Army Chief was in the nation’s team. But, then, this particular soldier has, indeed, been playing truant.
So we now see that he was playing for you!
[Out of respect for the uniform we have chosen a ‘civilian’ photo]
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14 May 2012
“COMMENT:
“I can fall in love anytime” : Prabhu Deva
LAMENT:
What is the big deal?
We have fallen in this pit many a time! And arose no wiser!!”
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14 May 2012
An Appeal for TAHZEEB Group
ENRICHING TAHZEEB
We the TAHZEEBians can begin to make a difference to the dilemma faced by Muslims and to the cause of harmony by writing posts [one each day, shall we?] that fulfil its objectives and enrich our society.
Some contents can include special safeguards available for minorities under the Indian constitution, privileges flowing under various schemes of various governments, their rights and obligations, inspiring success stories, stories of solidarity and brotherhood etc. We shall not make it a cry-baby site, nor lament only our difficulties. We will also discuss the way out by ourselves, and also show-case the rich contribution made by Muslims to Indian society.
Parallels from other countries, such as from the American civil rights movement, could be inspiring.
Also stories of Muslim reform – such as from the life and work of Ataturk Mustafa Kamal Pasha of Turkey – may throw pointers in our present times.
How Hindu community tackled its socio-cultural dilemma, the work of people like Raja Ram Mohan Roy etc may also come handy.
By stimulating meaningful debates here let us enrich our society, and enhance our nation’s integration.
For a start, will each one of us invite two of our friends to the Group? They should please share a staunch commitment to pluralism, secularism, minority protection and empowerment, and should genuinely feel proud of the Indo-Islamic cultural heritage. Sensible demand, right?
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14 May 2012
On Satya Meva Jayate
As a social activist I meet several in the fraternity, that go hungry, live frugally, and hope to make a difference, completely sincerely, but often in vain.
Then there are those, like Bill Gates and Aamir Khan, who can live in comfort and yet retain such sensitivity and offer such valuable services that hailing them as greater social activists will actually make social service more credible. For us the ‘professional’ social activists this is truly humbling.
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15 May 2012
A Reply to a Facebook Comment
Ghulam Faruki your posts are ever so illuminating. Kudos.
“If Turkey succeeds in that liberal experiment, and drafts its new constitution-in-the-making accordingly, it can set a promising example for Islamist-led governments in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere.”.
Yes, and we await
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15 May 2012
Mr. MODI’s BIG THINKING!
This is an interesting expose of the hyped up big vision of Gujarat’s Chief Minister.
[Courtesy a friend who chooses to remain anonymous.]
I wish my Gujarati friends like Chintan Bhatt, Manan Bhatt, Rahul Tejwani, Anar Bhatt, and, of course, Devshri Dev to take note…
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/true-lies/entry/of-hype-misadventure-and-gujarat-s-powerdom
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15 May 2012
Commenting on a Facebook Post
I can’t agree more with Mr Sam Kadri: “.unfortunately we dont have too many liberal leaders & this void demands frank analysis of what went wrong. Our track record on social reform & modern education is horrible.” Emphasis: ‘modern’.
In Indian context one would attribute this Muslim apathy – even defiance – towards modern education to opposing the colonialists. But since the Muslim education dilemma seems universal I must surmise that either colonialists destroyed Muslim learning world-wide, or, worse, that Islamic teachings as they evolved during the last 300 odd years left little room to accept change.
Mr Ghulam Faruki, How I wish one compared the emergence of Muslim intellectuals [in secular fields] during pre-Averroes and post-Averroes period. If you can catch a credible graph / table time-lining Muslim intellect and progress please do share.
Of some curiosity to me is the possible correlation between rise in liberalism and prosperity. I shall welcome both, citations of confirmation and of exceptions.
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15 May 2012
Commenting on a Facebook Post
Mr Anis Faruki you echo my sentiments: ” The ball here is welfare and well being of downtrodden Indian Muslims. What we need for Indian Muslims is action – step by step where they are empowered to reject..” [all obscurantism]
My iconoclastic proposition is that Muslim empowerment is linked – at least at the macro level, [with valid micro-level exceptions] – with Muslim liberalism.
I sincerely explored the possibility of Muslim clergy leading the community into progress and liberalism. This largely was a disappointment. [Remember that last week the Saudi King (yes, even he) fired his Advisor who openly questioned the increasing rights being bestowed upon their women!!].
To me, the only way out seemed to moderate the hold of religious thinking on things temporal and secular. Hence in KHITAB-E-NAU I coined the expression “Core Religion” and “Peripheral Aspects” encouraging Muslims to stick to THEIR core [even if with co-religionists], and synch their peripheral [with fellow countrymen]
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15 May 2012
In Reply to a Facebook Post Listing Muslim Contributors
Sam Kadri thank you very much for this impressive list. I hope that FB leaves posts long enough to serve as archives.
But you and I have noted with dismay that the latest entry in this list was : Ṣadr al-Dīn al-Shīrāzī (“Mullā Ṣadrā”, d. 1050/1640).
That Muslims did not produce contributors worthy of reckoning, during and after the colonial era, for a good four hundred years worries me no end. I also noticed that counting persons per century there has been a steady decline from the time of Ibn Rushd.
I am keen to compile all plausible reasons for this.
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17 May 2012
A Comment on a Facebook Post
The central theme of this scholarly article by Aslam Abdullah is the society, or the religious community. It is a straight-jacket world of all black and all white, ignoring the possibility of many shades of grey in between.
However, let us once probe this from the point of view of that helpless, miserable individual who was born with this arguably abnormal condition that s/he falls in between the two genders.
Now, either there is no sex for this person on God’s earth or God was not responsible for her/his condition.
Who then, was?”
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18 May 2012
Scale of Universe – Interactive Scale of the Universe Tool
scaleofuniverse.com
“I have posted this link for the second time but am dismayed that not many seem to have viewed it.
I don’t think many FBookers have a good idea of sizes and their proportions of a lot of objects.
How I wish a lot more of us took serious interest in software like this. The surest way to a better world is the way of knowledge, with awareness of our world.
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18 May 2012
NEWS:
Mumbai Cricket Association bans Shah Rukh Khan from the Wankhede Stadium due to a brawl between him and the MCA security staff.
VIEWS:
In so far as many a celebrity does take law for granted and misbehaves, this measure is welcome to set an example.
But in this particular case there appear to be issues larger than a mere brawl. If it is true that someone called him a Pakistani, then not only is he justified in the brawl, but the caller must be prosecuted. His name is Shah Rukh Khan and he is NOT a Pakistani.
By the way, was Bal Thackeray on whose behest the Shiv Sainiks had damaged the Mumbai pitch on the eve of Pakistani
match, banned the same way? Or at least were his cohorts so banned?
Which was a graver crime: a brawl off the pitch, or a physical damage to the pitch leading to the cancellation of the match? ————
18 May 2012
A Reply to a Comment:
Personally I have no problem with them poking a finger at what ails us, as long as they are honest and their criticism is fair. It is through criticism alone that we will discover our true ills, having had too much of PIDRAM SULTAN BOD [My father was the king] stuff.
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20 May 2012
DATA AND GRAPHICS
Sometimes ago I had posted a link to the scale of distances in the universe. Unfortunately not many recognized its value. They should now hunt for my post and discover the joy of viewing that little beautiful and mesmerizing flash show.
Now, this one relates to DATA. Hans Rosling believes that data belongs to the whole humanity and must be presented graphically so easily that any one can view it.
Their website not only presents valuable data amazingly but also provides a free desktop software that can maneuver data presentation beautifully.
I solicit such posts that inform, enlighten and empower. And I know that amongst you there are many geeks, nerds and … true geniuses. So why wait for a special invite? Go ahead and enrich FB. Won’t that be better than the “Oh! How cute!” posts?
Yours for download:http://www.gapminder.org/
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20 May 2012
Vidya Dee your post was both warm and illuminating. You depicted the dilemma of a person that adores broad, universal and catholic principles of Islamic, but dreads its doctrinaire aspects, the rigidities of the shariah as handed down to by the mullahs, and the over-emphasis on the ritualistic routine.
As a rationalist, for me, Islam is a living philosophy that served humanity well for a long time. It is a step forward in the evolutionary nature of the human civilization, and needs to be seen as such. Getting stuck in the quagmire of time would do no good to anyone, not the least to Islam, nor to Muslims.
Progress – be it through ijtehad [reinterpretation], reform or rebellion – appears necessary for both its own survival and for the world.
I welcome you to TAHZEEB and encourage you to popularize this platform for a rational resolution of the Muslim dilemma
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23 May 2012
I had posted some debatable, if critical, comments, here during the previous week.This should normally have attracted a lot of brickbats and plausibly a few bouquets. Neither happened. Either we have very few visitors, or we do not know how to tag our posts such as to reach the comment to the potentially targeted audience, or people do not care for such topics. Each one offers a new agenda for action to us, TAHZEEBians.
Elsewhere here I raise some more questions. I hope to stimulate a rethink / review of some of current Muslims precepts and practices
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24 May 2012
I am truly encouraged – and feel adequately rewarded – by the scholarly treatment of the subject above. While clearly there are more shades and opinions that the ones presented above, and while the last is yet not spoken, what has been recorded above should illuminate the debate and enlighten the skeptical visitors to the page. [Isn’t that in itself a valuable contribution to positive perception building?]
Talking of this, I notice that Muslims usually fare better when they offer scientific evidence, reason sensibly, argue patiently, present their point of view in a civil manner, than when they quote religious doctrine, get emotional, play the victim card, accuse others of designs…et al.
TAHZEEBians please carry on this way. Raise issues, discuss and analyze various shades of opinions, and help resolve controversies, all towards building a more peaceable world
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24 May 2012
I believe in objectivism which holds that ‘reason is man’s only means of perceiving reality n his only guide to action’. By reason, i mean the faculty which identifies n integrates the material provided by man’s senses. Whole process of living consists of d achievement of values,man doesn’t survive automatically,he must live lyk a rational being n accept nothing less.” – Zaid Kamal
I welcome you to TAHZEEB heartily and believe that you will contribute valuable inputs.
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24 May 2012
Talking of that Vidya Dee, all diplomacy is said to be the subtle mastery of deception and lies!
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25 May 2012
Mr Ghulam Farukil you have added some crucial words to the dictat ‘the best’, viz, “for the times one lives in”.
Everything will become so easy, rational and useful to us – and convincing and acceptable to others – if only we were to be guided by those six additional words.
Eating, drinking, wearing, travelling in or on, dealing with, accepting or rejecting.. virtually everything we may do. Pray your wise counsel is received by alert ears!
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26 May 2012
REEBOK HOOKED
Talking of the massive RS 780 crore fraud allegedly committed by Reebok’s top executives by diverting stocks to fictitious godowns ‘for years’, I wonder if this is how the MNCs run. No stock verification, not even at the time of annual audit? No concurrent auditing? No follow-up for recoveries? And is this the quality of top honchos that they appoint?
Our small bank branches are run with far better checks and balances.
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26 May 2012
“Life’s outcomes often depend upon the roads we happen to take – or are forced to take. And this world judges us from the goals we reached.
Sadly few ever bother to reckon the distances we each traveled to reach where we did.”
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26 May 2012
It almost appears as if the Congress Government preplanned the partial roll back of petroleum price hike. If the hike was inevitable from economic policy perspective, it is then clever to first hike by 8X and then reduce by 2X, rather than just hike up by 6X. So you are not singled out as the villain. Nor does the opposition get away with all the credit for protesting price hike.
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26 May 2012
Is Gen V K Singh itching to rub the government the wrong way, even in this last week of his service? Seems so.
The grapevine has it that this veteran soldier of many battles wants to carry this war forward against the government. He may well join the BJP offering them a hot poll plank called the holy cow of defense!”
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26 May 2012
“Whatever it is, working with Muslims has grounded me more in my own faith tradition” says DanielTutt, in his blog cited by friend Anis Faruki above.
While I was inspired by his Da’wah work I couldn’t logically fathom the statement quoted here.
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27 May 2012
On Muslim Potential
I have been part of Team SPRAT that, inter alia, ran eight centres of empowerment. Amongst other things they coached for English, computer usage, accounts writing and SSC and HSC. My firm belief that Muslims, as a race or grouping, are next to none, was reinforced from the practical experience that came from running these centres.
But lagging behind they do, undoubtedly, and nearly universally. Abundant data exists to show the collectively Muslims lag behind all other major religious communities in terms of education and promoting learning in general. So what ails them, nevertheless?
My painful submission is that it is Islam, the way it is understood and implemented, that obstructs the fruition of the potential of Muslim humans.
And finding that balance, that equilibrium, that lets Muslims evolve into a race of knowledge and learning, even while retaining their spiritual peace and confidence [whatever that may mean to each individual], remains my life’s challenge. I believe that when a culture of learning and knowledge reigns supreme in the Muslim community it will most certainly contribute to world peace and general good of humanity.
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27 May 2012
On Elections in Gujarat
Thanks. For really effective results I feel that at the state level alliances will have to be struck: with Dalits, Patels, NCP [the spoiler in previous elections], the tribals, the intellectuals [supposed to be conscience keepers] and the media. The dilemma is who will bell the cat? Who is competent to, and capable of, negotiating on behalf of Muslims? I see no tall figure in the community remotely likely to enjoy confidence of substantial numbers. Your take?
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27 May 2012
I am afraid I don’t know the facts around this. But Muslims in general seem to have been less tolerant towards their minorities. Ahmadias in Pakistan, Bahais in Iran.. perhaps Kurds in Turkey and Iraq [in addition to the political considerations], and in general the Sunni-Shia strife..virtually everywhere bear testimony
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28 May 2012
“Daniel Tutt, a Christian, is doing excellent advocacy work in the USA to increase understanding of Islam. When will we see a Muslim doing advocacy work in Saudi Arabia to increase understanding of Christianity?”
Thanks Mr Ghulam Faruki for asking this. Every time I read of Catholicism and generosity of people of other faiths I am compelled to ask this question: When will Muslims….?
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30 May 2012
Muslim Freedoms
“I am still groping for an answer: How did it come to be that an overwhelming majority of Muslim countries unquestionably are dictatorships, monarchies, totalitarian regimes and restricted democracies?
Here the sovereignty of the individual citizens has been made subservient to the will of one individual or a group comprising his coterie – far removed from the sovereignty of Allah.
I request an unambiguous – and non-ambivalent – answer as to how this state of affairs came to be. Please opine
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31 May 2012
DEBATING STYLES
One style of debating is to make a point well, very well, and then leave it there. By pressing your point before an unwilling audience you only increase bitterness and substitute reason with emotion.
Engage the debaters and prolong the debate only when you doubt your point hasn’t been made well enough for your debaters to understand. You are responsible to reach your point, not to convince people.
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1 June 2012
NEWS:
The last quarter results of the Indian economy are dismal.
QUESTION:
Is the government responsible to run the economy?
If yes, this means they are not taking decisions fast, not acting in time.
If so, a major reason is the fear instilled by populist movements like Anna’s which encourage a culture of witch-hunting the performing bureaucrats who are apt to make mistakes as they act decisively.
If no, why blame the Government at all?
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3 June 2012
WEAKENED CENTRE
Modi ridiculing the Delhi Saltanat, Mamta refusing to receive PM on Kolkata airport, chief ministers flagrantly defying the cabinet ministers.. all indicating the centre’s diminishing clout. Or of the states’ rising stock!
For old timers like me used to viewing the nation’s integrity in the strength of the centre this kind of federalism is hard to digest. Hopefully I am wrong.
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3 June 2012
WHO/WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT? Humans or their faith? Whose amelioration, growth or glory do we seek to pursue – of human beings [even if following a particular faith], or of the faith following by a particular community? This distinction may help determine whether we are human rights activists or religious fanatics under the garb of humane service. Answer the Question: Who would you serve
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3 June 2012
The Hindu : Arts / Magazine : No Muslims please!
“This should be true. I have personally faced this humiliation more than once in Ahmedabad.
I wonder how can such Hindus legitimately expect such victimized Muslims to remain patriotic?”
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3 June 2012
ICONIC DISTINCTION
It is debatable how many religions, or faiths there are living today, and how many forms of supreme beings people believe in. But for the sake of this example let us say there are 4215 recognized forms of faiths / belief systems. Then,
A BELIEVER: Is one who disbelieves in 4214 religions
AN ATHEIST: Is one who disbelieves in 4215 religions
Never thought that way? Now do.
And if in doubt check this website out:
http://www.godchecker.com/gotw/index.php
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5 June 2012
SKY IN ISLAM
Science regards “sky” as merely a poetic expression for the limit of visibility. This is an imaginary dome where the sun, stars, planets, and the moon are seen to be traveling. Usually, the term sky is used from the point of view of the Earth’s surface. However, the exact meaning of the term can vary; in some cases, the sky is defined as only the denser portions of the atmosphere, for example. Do you believe there exists a sky?”
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8 June 2012
BABA CRUSADE
Every time I hear of Baba Ramdev’s clarion call for bringing in black money back from abroad, two thoughts come to my mind:
a. Baba black sheep…
b. Bring back all that went into buying an island near Switzerland
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8 June 2012
UNCLE’S POWERS
Is there any individual or group you suspect of planning to do wrong to you? Go kill them. Only, use a drone plane with an American sign on it.
If you kill some, declare them to be terrorists. If they happen to be Muslims, no one will doubt. And if they still are not, never mind, that is collateral damage.
Don’t bother about proof, evidence, trial, judgement.. These are for lesser mortals, like nephews. Not for Uncle Sam.
Hail American fairplay. Hail American sense of justice
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8 June 2012
A Reply to a Facebook Comment
Ashraf Gul you are probably unaware that I am a staunch rationalist, to the extent that I actually founded an organization to promote this, and have been working for it ceaselessly for a decade. But fighting injustice, defending human rights and protesting unfair play …. since when have these become the monopoly of religions?
Incidentally, are these also not the proclaimed objectives even of the atheists? Do you, personally, not regard these US actions blatantly unilateral, unjust and unfair? A good number of staunch Americans do.
By th
e way I like America and admire American spirit for a hundred reasons. Uncle Sam’s dictatorship is not one of these.
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9 June 2012
| “In Islam there is this concept of ‘mujahid’ – [a derivative of Jihad, I guess] for someone who struggles in a cause. These good fellows are nothing short of it. Hail them, the keepers of our conscience.” |
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10 June 2012
“The media barons, the Press Council and prominent journalists all cry hoarse against any attempt to regulate the media. Why don’t they set up a whistle blower journalist support fund, and provide some sort of protection to such crusaders? If somebody is willing to lead this campaign to defend the sting operators for national and humane causes I – and hopefully SPRAT – will lend a helping hand, too.”
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10 June 2012
The Quran says [Aal-e-Imran – 3:110]: ‘kuntum khayr ‘ummah ukhrijat li- an- naas ..’ [You are the best of peoples evolved for mankind]
Which people is this verse referring to? Muslims of the day? Doesn’t it seem very far-fetched.
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12 June 2012
CBI reaching a decision that seems to endorse the government stand ought by itself not to be seen as sycophancy. Don’t the courts often give similar judgments? One needs to judge case by case. While there can be no arguing against autonomy for CBI, placing it under Lokpal doesn’t seem to be the remedy.
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14 June 2012
PARSIS AND MUSLIMS
Parsis are classified by their community as “poor” if they earn less than Rupees 90,000 per month!
Muslims, with a zero less, consider themselves “middle income” if not “rich”.
Poor Parsis!
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14 June 2012
NEWS
“Bihar leadership suffers from casteist politics” – Narendra Modi
Gujarat is seeped into communal politics says Nitish Kumar
And we believe both
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15 June 2012
By the way, Chintan Bhatt, who tries the judge? Who orders an inquiry against a judge? Another judge. Who investigates the crimes of policemen? Other policemen. So why can’t we trust the politician to also be capable of clean investigation?
It is the pervading sense of disregard [even if well-founded] for the politician that leads us to seek other solutions. But that is not rational. Our exigencies ought not to be the basis of long term legislative framework.
What is needed is to clean up the system, not replace individuals; instill values and fear of law rather than substitute authorities. We need stricter implementation of laws more than making new laws.
Team Anna has presented political / bureaucratic corruption as the ONLY large social issue. Didn’t you see in Satya Meva Jayate that we are faced with much larger, far more heinous crimes like killing our daughters, fleecing our gullible patients mercilessly?
Isn’t it naive to see all evils in corruption and all vices in politicians alone, although these are significant players in the crime?
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16 June 2012
Yes, Bhai Anis Faruki, shaping our personalities such that we instinctively follow the law and feel satisfied that we did what is best for us… reaching that stage of citizenship seems to me a worthy goal for governance. And as you obliquely indic
ated, that is the true test of patriotism, too
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16 June 2012
This Quranic verse [Sura Rahman] asserts, by way of a question: “Hal Jaza’il Ihsaanu Ill-al Ihsan?” [For good deeds can there be reward other than good? / Is the return for goodness anything but goodness?]
I ask Muslims, in the light of this verse, [if my translation is not incorrect in its essence] if in the ultimate logic, it is the deeds, rather than belief, that determine the fate?
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17 June 2012
LIVING PHILOSOPHY
Dear Muslim friends,
Belief without deeds
Deeds without belief
Belief and deeds
Neither belief, nor deeds
If you HAD to arrange these four styles of living, in their order of importance, how would they look?
ADDITIONAL
But Vidya Dee aren’t the atheists of Europe and America delivering a lot more goodness to humanity than the believers of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India? Isn’t that the reason why there is an exodus of believers from the dev-bhoomi to those ‘materialistic’ lands?
